Divine Word Missionaries blog

Divine Word Missionaries blog will share some of the latest mission updates from around the world. The more than 6,000 Divine Word Missionaries are serving in 78 countries with a variety of provinces/regions that are then grouped into four zones, namely, the European zone (EUROPA), the Pan-American zone (PANAM), the Asia-Pacific zone (ASPAC), and the Africa-Madagascar zone (AFRAM). The zones may work as geographical sub-zones wherever this seems suitable. Check back often for real-time stories from the missions.

Sanitation is a human right

Dec 09, 2016

Pictured: Participants and winners of the Inter-school drawing competition on “World Toilet Day,” hosted by the Janvikas Society in Indore, India.

Fr. Roy Thomas SVD, Director of the Janvikas Society in Indore, India recently wrote to the Mission Center about the successful inter-school drawing competition where 200 children from more than 50 schools participated. The competition was held on Nov. 19 2016, which is an official United Nations international day: World Toilet Day (WTD). This UN resolution was established in 2013 to motivate and mobilize millions around the world on issues of sanitation. As of 2015 it was estimated that 2.4-billion (1 in 3) lack access to improved sanitation facilities and just fewer than 1 billion continue to defecate openly. “Sanitation is a human right, just as it is a human right to water,” shared Fr. Roy. The lack of access to sanitation impacts health, safety and the dignity of the person. This competition challenged the children to draw or paint their dream of creating an “Open Defecation Free Indore City.” The results were beautiful and each child left with a certificate of participation as well as a greater understanding and appreciation for the importance of sanitation in their city.